Abstract: In the past one hundred years, there are several important conventions and legislations on the carriage of goods by sea. The experiences and lessons of these legislations are worth considering. This paper，through introducing the history development of several important conventions and legislations on the carriage of goods by sea, analyzes the factors that have affected the acceptance and ratification of the conventions, summarizes the characteristics of carriage of goods by sea legislations, predicts the future development of the Rotterdam Rules, and put forward recommendations to the Chinese government.

Key Words: international convention; carriage of goods by sea, the Rotterdam Rules, implication

Published in Chinese Journal of Maritime Law, No. 2, 2013.